Gimcrack third is held in the highest regard.
When Symbol Of Strength competes in the Unibet Sirenia Stakes at Kempton on Saturday, Adrian Keatley is supporting him to show off his skills.
Despite finishing only fifth on his debut in May at Beverley, he showed great improvement at Ayr, breaking through as a maiden.
His trainer was not impressed when he finished a length behind Cool Hoof Luke in the Group Two Gimcrack Stakes last month, despite being sent off as an 80-1 outsider. However, his encouraging performance was sufficient to secure his ticket to York.
Keatley, who is rated more than 10 pounds higher than the next best in official ratings and has entered the Mill Reef and Middle Park Stakes, believes that this Group Three event is the ideal chance for him and his son of Kodiac to record a stakes victory before those high-profile goals are announced.
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Cool Hoof Luke outperforms his breeding to take the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes 🥇#ITVRacing | #EborFestival | @oismurphy | @AndrewBalding2 pic.twitter.com/hbZ7C7C21J
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) August 23, 2024
"It looks a nice opportunity for him if you go on ratings," said Keatley.
"He is eager to get home and is at both Middle Park and the Mill Reef. He's only had three runs, but he came out of York in such terrific form that I felt this could be a good chance for him to regain his composure and earn some confidence before his next race.
"I believe that those who were shocked by York's pricing were the only ones; we were well expecting a huge run. Ayr is a terrific track for trials for major two-year-old races, and it takes a fair horse to break the track record over five and a half furlongs there.
"It would be nice if we could get a Group Three under our belt now before looking ahead to later in the autumn."
The only two wins Sylvester Kirk had in 2024 came from Brian, and his standout performance is back with Pattern after crushing the competition in a crucial sales event at Newmarket the previous time.
Kirk has chosen to come here instead of waiting for the Rockingham Stakes, which are contested at York next month because he has always held great admiration for the son of Shaman, who was placed behind Bedtime Story in the Chesham earlier in the season.
"It's only a couple of weeks since he won at Newmarket, but it's a race where there is one horse rated 107 and the rest are all around 95 and in the 90s," said Kirk.
"We were considering the Rockingham, and while I am aware that no Group race is simple, we will take advantage of this opportunity, preferably with Kempton handling him. There might be five, six, or even seven horses rated above 100 there.
It would be wonderful if he could run well. It would be pleasant to witness him play well because we have already had a great time with him."
Hugo Palmer's It Ain't Two, who has eight more runs under her belt since her triumphant Newmarket debut in April, is another horse who has been kept busy this season. Her owners include former England international striker Michael Owen.
With a filly that loves to race, her handler is eager to capture some lucrative black type after she just recorded her third career success on the July course.
"She was second in the Dragon Stakes at Sandown earlier in the season, but I think six furlongs is very much her trip at the moment," said Palmer.
"She did a great job winning in Chester last weekend, and I was honestly shocked that she gained just 2 pounds. Given that she is a filly, I believe her time in nurseries is likely behind her.
"She is incredibly tough and seems to genuinely enjoy racing, so I doubt this will be her last start as a two-year-old. She already has a black type, but we still need to strive for one.
"We'll give it our best shot, we've not done a lot with her since Chester but she seems to be thriving and we will see how we go."
